Attorney: Teachers' harassment claims unfounded

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Claims by two Sikeston School District teachers they were harassed and discriminated against for their anti-Common Core beliefs were deemed unfounded by a third-party investigator.

Findings of the investigation, which was conducted by Michelle Basi, a lawyer at Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan and Jackstadt of St. Louis, were presented during Tuesday's regular monthly meeting of the Sikeston School Board.

The investigation began after a March 26 hearing of the Senate Education Committee in Jefferson City, Missouri, where Susan Kimball, who teaches kindergarten in the district, told lawmakers she was denied the use of a personal day to testify before the committee and that she was strongly discouraged from saying anything negative about Common Core.

Sikeston fifth-grade teacher Tonya Pobst also testified at the March hearing in support of bills that prohibited the implementation of Common Core. She, too, said she'd been denied the use of a personal day the day of the hearing.

Cindy Griffin, assistant superintendent for elementary/special services, read a statement to the nearly 100 people who attended Tuesday's board meeting.

As a result of the teachers' testimonies before the Senate Education Committee, Griffin said the school board directed the local compliance officer to assign an independent third party to conduct an investigation and issue a report pursuant to Policy AC, titled "Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation."

The investigator examined whether the teachers were denied personal days because they intended to participate in a rally, testify before the Senate Education Committee or engage in any other type of protected activity, Griffin said.

The second allegation investigated was whether staff members in the Sikeston School District were directed or encouraged not to speak negatively about Common Core.

Also investigated were allegations of whether the teachers or staff members were bullied, intimidated or ostracized for speaking out about Common Core; and whether the district engaged in "lies" and "deceit" about the administration of assessments.

"Based on 36 interviews and 38 exhibits presented by those being interviewed, all allegations were unfounded," Griffin told the crowd, who sat in silence. "There is no evidence of a violation of law or Policy AC.

She continued: "In addition, there is no evidence of any intent, policy, practice or directive to limit the rights of the district teachers to speak out on matters of public concern, including Common Core."

After the meeting, Kimball and Pobst expressed their disappointment with the findings.

"Their lawyer was paid for by the school board, first of all," Kimball said. "Secondly, the law firm she's with is widely known for representing school boards in the state of Missouri. Thirdly, I have two different writings where my personal day was denied, so they are lying."

Kimball said she has filed an appeal of the investigation.

Pobst said she will let the board know by today whether she's filing an appeal.

Meanwhile, Pobst encouraged community members to research Common Core.

"If they research it and don't go by what others are telling them, they will learn the truth," Pobst said.

The Common Core State Standards are part of the Missouri Learning Standards adopted by the state in 2010. These standards replace the Grade Level Expectations for all Missouri public schools in English language arts and math beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.

On Friday, the Missouri Legislature passed House Bill 1490 to end the state's involvement in the Common Core educational standards.

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, Mo.